Alabama Port Authority Orders Konecranes RTGs for New Intermodal Facility

The Alabama Port Authority has ordered two Konecranes rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes for its new intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) in Montgomery, Alabama. Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with the terminal set to open in early 2027.

The RTGs will provide the backbone of container handling at the site, enabling efficient transfers between rail and truck transportation. Container volumes at the Port of Mobile increased from about 502,000 TEUs in 2021 to more than 563,000 TEUs in 2023, and further growth is expected.

The cranes will include active load control, which minimizes sway, along with a suite of Konecranes smart features. These include auto-steering, auto-positioning and auto-TOS reporting for accurate placement and integration with the terminal operating system. Stack collision prevention, auto path optimizing and auto-truck guiding will further enhance safety and yard efficiency.

This marks the port authority’s first purchase of Konecranes RTGs, extending a relationship that began in 2001 with the delivery of a Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Crane. That machine is still in use today, handling containers and breakbulk cargo.

“We’ve seen how durable and dependable Konecranes technology is in our daily operations. This track record gave us the confidence to expand the relationship with these RTGs. The new cranes will set the standard for efficiency and handling capacity as we launch the intermodal terminal and scale up operations,” said Doug Otto, interim director and CEO of the Alabama Port Authority.

Alan Garcia, director regional sales Americas, Konecranes Port Solutions, added: “The agreement shows that when performance and reliability are critical – customers turn to Konecranes. We’re proud to support the Alabama Port Authority in this ambitious greenfield project.”

Konecranes frames the order as part of its broader “path to port automation” strategy, which allows container terminals to adopt productivity and safety features in stages, with options for supervised or remote operations as facilities modernize.